How to Use Pinterest and Instagram to Build Your Design Brief

Why Images Work Better Than Words in a Design Brief

With images, guesswork doesn’t exist. The word “modern” can be interpreted differently; one person could see it as raw concrete and steel, another person could read it as pale timber with linen curtains.

Both readings are valid, but visual cues allow designers to understand what “modern” (or any other style) means to you, personally.

But if the builder sees a set of 12 to 15 pictures consistent in their designs, they’ll understand the look and feel of your desired aesthetic, and will be able to properly advise you on how to execute it. Checking out a builder’s gallery works similarly but in reverse. If you continue to save the images of a builder’s homes, they’re a perfect fit for your plans.

Setting Up a Pinterest Board for Your New Home: How to Go About It

Start with three boards rather than one. One large board fills up fast and quickly becomes hard to manage.

Use the first board to save designs for your future home’s exterior and the second board for rooms where you spend most of your time (i.e., the kitchen and living room). Use the third board for small details such as door handles, splashbacks, and taps.

Save pins as soon as you find ones that appeal to you, and don’t worry about grouping them. You can organise them later.

Adding short notes to your pins makes a significant difference. A photo of a kitchen doesn’t explain which elements you actually want.

But when you add a note saying something like “I’d prefer the island bench over the splashback,” your designer will be able to tell what caught your attention in the first place.

What to Save on Instagram When Planning a Build

Ensure you follow builders and architects, not just stylists. Stylists post pictures of homes they’ve set up and snapped under ideal, artificially-created lighting conditions. 

Check builders’ and architects’ pages and see posts of real Australian blocks in natural light. This is the light you’d get in your home. Australian pages also match the sun and seasons in the country. So, their ideas suit your block much better than photos taken overseas.

On Instagram, save photos and walking videos. Video can provide additional context to how big each space is and how rooms fit together. Visiting display homes also gives you that same vibe in person and it’s the way to go when your boards start pointing towards one direction. 

Turning Your Saved Photos Into a Plan

Now’s the time to sort out those saved images. Place each photo into one of three groups. Tag these groups as “keep”, “maybe”, and “remove”.

Take out photos you can’t remember saving. After that the 20 to 30 pictures left should show your true taste.

Now sort your saved pins into two groups: essential and optional. Then review the collection for inconsistencies. If your board pulls in several directions at once, some pins will need to go, because the finished board should read as a single coherent look rather than a set of competing ideas.

This is also true if your saves include tiles and timber floors. Resolving these conflicts early means your first meeting with a designer stays focused and productive.

Come to your initial builder consultation with your preferences clearly defined. A set of boards with notes under each one is the most helpful thing you can bring to your first design meeting. 

Bringing a clear board to a quality design team ensures your style and taste carries through to the finished home. If you’d like to customise a home in Sydney and want to use a builder that will integrate your design ideals from start to finish, reach out to IMSU for a consultation.